được vs có thể — Expressing Ability and Permission

Quick Answer

được primarily indicates permission, a successful achievement, or a beneficial outcome, often implying an external factor or effort. In contrast, có thể is used to express general ability or inherent capacity, as well as possibility or likelihood. While both can translate to "can" or "be able to," their underlying nuances are distinct and context-dependent.

Comparison Table

Detailed Explanation

Both được and có thể are crucial modal verbs in Vietnamese, often translating to "can" or "be able to" in English. However, their usage depends heavily on the specific context of ability or permission.

được

được is a versatile word with several key meanings:

Permission/Allowance: This is one of its most common uses. When được is used in this sense, it means "to be allowed to" or "to receive permission to do something." It often implies that an external authority, rule, or circumstance has granted permission.Achievement/Success: được can express that someone managed to do something, often after effort, overcoming a challenge, or achieving a successful outcome. It translates to "to succeed in doing," "to achieve," or "to manage to."Benefit/Gain/Receipt: In a broader sense, được can indicate receiving something beneficial, a positive outcome, or being subjected to an action with a positive or neutral connotation. It can act similarly to a passive voice construction but often with a favorable result. For example, "Tôi được tặng quà" (I was given a gift).

While its core meanings are consistent across regions, in some Southern dialects, được might be used slightly more broadly as a general "can" or "able to" in contexts where Northerners might prefer có thể. However, for B1 learners, focusing on the core distinctions presented here will serve you best in formal and standard Vietnamese.

có thể

có thể also has primary meanings related to ability and possibility:

General Ability/Inherent Capacity: This is the most direct equivalent to "can" or "to be able to" in English, referring to possessing the skill, physical capability, or knowledge to perform an action. It describes an intrinsic quality or potential of a person or thing. For instance, "Tôi có thể bơi" (I can swim) implies an inherent skill.Possibility/Likelihood: có thể frequently expresses possibility or likelihood, meaning "might," "may," or "it is possible that." It indicates that something could happen or be true. For example, "Trời có thể mưa" (It might rain).

Hán-Việt Connection: The phrase có thể can be broken down to understand its meaning. có means "to have" (Hán-Việt: hữu, 有), and thể (Hán-Việt: thể, 體) refers to "body, form, state, condition," or more relevantly here, "capacity" or "potential." Thus, có thể literally suggests "to have the capacity/possibility," which aligns perfectly with its usage for inherent ability and general possibility.

Example Pairs

Common Patterns

Here are some common patterns where được or có thể is typically used:

được phép (to be permitted/allowed): This explicitly states permission.

Người dân được phép ra ngoài sau 6 giờ tối.

The citizens are permitted to go out after 6 PM.

có thể làm gì đó (to be able to do something): Expresses general ability.

Tôi có thể nói tiếng Anh và tiếng Pháp.

I can speak English and French.

có thể xảy ra (it might happen/is possible): Expresses possibility.

Trời có thể mưa vào chiều nay.

It might rain this afternoon.

được + (verb) (to be allowed to/to succeed in doing):

Tôi được nghỉ học hôm nay.

I am allowed to skip school today / I got to skip school today.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1 — Confusing General Ability with Permission

Learners often use có thể when permission is implied, which sounds unnatural.

❌ Học sinh không có thể sử dụng điện thoại trong lớp.

✅ Học sinh không được sử dụng điện thoại trong lớp.

The incorrect sentence implies students lack the physical or mental capacity to use a phone. The correct sentence uses được to convey that they are not allowed to use phones due to a rule or regulation.

Mistake 2 — Using được for Possibility

While được can indicate a beneficial outcome, it generally doesn't express simple likelihood or possibility in the way có thể does.

❌ Hôm nay trời được mưa.

✅ Hôm nay trời có thể mưa.

The incorrect sentence sounds like "today it managed to rain" or "it was allowed to rain," which doesn't make sense for weather. The correct sentence uses có thể to express that rain is a possibility.

Mistake 3 — Using có thể for Receiving or Gaining

có thể describes an ability or possibility, not the act of receiving or gaining something.

❌ Tôi có thể một món quà từ bạn bè.

✅ Tôi được một món quà từ bạn bè.

The incorrect sentence translates to "I am able to a gift from friends," which is grammatically incomplete and conceptually wrong. The correct sentence uses được to mean "I received a gift from friends," indicating a positive acquisition.

Mistake 4 — Incorrectly expressing a successful attempt

When someone tries and succeeds at something, được is the natural choice, not có thể.

❌ Sau một giờ, tôi có thể mở cái chai đó.

✅ Sau một giờ, tôi được mở cái chai đó.

The incorrect sentence implies "After an hour, I am able to open that bottle" (inherent ability), not the success of an effort. The correct sentence with được indicates "After an hour, I managed to open that bottle," highlighting the successful completion of a task after an attempt.

Quick Quiz

Fill in the blank with được or có thể:

1. Tôi _____ lái xe hơi.

Hint: This refers to your inherent skill or capability to drive.

2. Bạn không _____ vào khu vực này.

Hint: This implies a rule or restriction preventing entry.

3. Anh ấy _____ giải nhất cuộc thi.

Hint: This refers to winning or achieving something.